Chinese men take photos in a Beijing restaurant where Chinese President Xi Jinping visited a day before on Dec. 29, 2013. / Ng Han Guan, AP

by Calum MacLeod, USA TODAY

by Calum MacLeod, USA TODAY

BEIJING - In the past week, one Chinese politician rode the subway in his central China city; another cooked fish on TV for his New Year's address to a south China city; and yet another showed citizens around his east China office building. Last Saturday, Chinese president Xi Jinping, himself, stood in line at a cheap Beijing diner, where he ate steamed buns.

Analysts say these recent examples of politicians showing off their "man-of-the-people" credentials - a display that American voters are long used to, but one that remains highly unusual in China - signal change under Communist Party leader Xi.

"Citizens almost never see their leaders except through TV screens; politicians do not ply the streets in China," said political analyst Russell Moses, dean of academics and faculty at the Beijing Center for Chinese Studies. "Local officials going out into their own communities and realms is overwhelmingly unknown in the malls and streets of China."

Some Chinese, skeptical of their state-run media and disillusioned after countless cases of abuses of power, think the acts are just posturing.

"Putting on a show is already most sickening, and then media hurriedly sing their praises," wrote Ni Wushu, an advertising company employee in Beijing, on China's Twitter equivalent, Sina Weibo.

But, if such gestures become a regular occurrence, that could change some Chinese residents' minds, Moses said.

"There is surprise and skepticism, but that's likely to ease if this becomes a regular pattern of politics in the system, rather than just another campaign," Moses said. "This is not democratic reform but a deliberate reaching out. The Party wants people to know who their representatives are."

When Xi Jinping downed working-man buns at a regular eatery last weekend, photos taken by fellow diners quickly emerged online. Other diners have since flocked to the restaurant, causing hour-long lines.

While Xi's unusual drop-in has inspired officials nationwide to get closer to their constituents, such move may prove to be to little, too late.

"People think it's just posturing, as they have no trust in leaders or the media, and that's been the norm for many years," said Zhang Ming, a political scientist at People's University in Beijing. "Xi wants to change things, to gain more trust, but it's uncertain he can," he said.

Some citizens hope the new scrutiny will at least prompt more frugal lifestyles.

"I don't doubt" the reasons Zhengzhou city Party chief Wu Tianjun gave for his unusual ride on a new subway line, wrote Guangdong high school student Ou Juntao on Weibo. "l just think 'public servants' must go to work by public transport."